More than 1,000 Gather in Phnom Penh to Seek Solutions to Land Conflicts
Published on 30 March 2023
More than 1,000 community members from Siem Reap, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu and Preah Vihear provinces gathered in Phnom Penh between 27 March and 29 March to petition for solutions to ongoing land disputes affecting their homes and livelihoods, in some cases facing restrictions on movement and assembly from local authorities.
Between 27 and 28 March, about 150 people from seven Siem Reap communities gathered in Phnom Penh, where representatives submitted petitions to the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of National Defence on behalf of approximately 10,000 families who live within Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes the temple of Angkor Wat. Their petitions included a request for the government to return land titles to community members, enact protections for the Kleang Tuek 78 reservoir, and provide fair compensation to those already affected by evictions within the site. The government has previously said the evictions are necessary to maintain the area’s UNESCO World Heritage status.
The Siem Reap communities continued to UNESCO’s offices in the capital. Community representatives report being told at the UNESCO offices that they were unable to submit the petition because UNESCO does not work on land disputes. The gatherings were monitored by police, security forces and undercover authorities.
In a separate gathering on 29 March, more than 1,000 people from three communities in Kampong Speu, seven communities in Koh Kong, and representatives from Preah Vihear provinces gathered in Phnom Penh to submit petitions to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction; Ministry of Interior; Hun Sen’s Cabinet; and European Union offices. The Kampong Speu and Koh Kong communities have had ongoing land disputes with companies tied to okhna Ly Yong Phat and okhna Heng Huy. Their petitions requested the government to help victims of land grabbing by returning land occupied by companies linked to both tycoons. Around 40 undercover authorities, including police, were present.
Authorities repeatedly obstructed community members as they attempted to travel from their communities in Kampong Speu and Koh Kong to Phnom Penh. Police and local authorities blocked communities in Kampong Speu from beginning their journey, with community members from Peam Ros village forced to walk 10km before finding other transportation. Authorities also blocked dozens of vehicles carrying hundreds of community members from Koh Kong and Kampong Speu en route to Phnom Penh, requesting their names and identity documents. About 500 community members from Koh Kong province walked long distances through the early hours of the morning until their vehicles were permitted to continue.
MP3 format: Listen to audio version in Khmer
